Lankan politician claims 'clearance by ICC' to vie for cricket presidency

Leading politician Thilanga Sumathipala has claimed to have been cleared by the ICC to vie for president's post during the upcoming Sri Lanka Cricket's election on March 30.

Irwin Jayawardena, a spokesman for the twice former SLC president Sumathipala told local media that ICC president Alan Issac has cleared Sumathipala in a letter sent to him.

"ICC president Alan Issac has cleared him to contest the election and hold office," Jayawardena who himself is due to contest for an office-bearer's post under Sumathipala informed.

Sumathipala's rivals claimed that business involvements of his family would not make him a suitable candidate. The family empire's business interests range from restaurants to betting centres to newspaper publishing houses.

Sumathipala, a ruling party MP currently saw two of his previous elected administrations being sacked by sports minsters for unproven charges of corruption and mismanagement.

Two of his rivals for presidency, the incumbent Upali Dharmadasa and Sumith Perera have also encountered objections to their candidature.

SLC is the island's richest body and often the top politicians and businessmen scramble for positions in the administration.